India’s KL Rahul, left, and Sai Sudharsen run between the wickets (PTI Image)
TimesofIndia.com in Mullanpur: The challenge for KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan was not their bowling attack in Afghanistan. It has been a transition from two months of relentless T20 cricket to the demands of Test cricket.
One of them had to rediscover patience after a prolific campaign in the Indian Premier League, while the other had to justify the faith placed in him by the team management.
On the first day, they both passed their tests. Rahul powered his way to a tough century, and Sai produced a fluent 81 as India dominated the one-off Test.For three straight days in the lead-up to the match, KL Rahul spent hours at the nets under the blazing sun. Even a day before the Test, when practice was optional, only three batsmen turned up: KL Rahul was one of them.
Throughout those sessions, one thing stood out: Rahul was trying to play closer to his body and break away from his T20 batting habits. However, unlike most of his teammates, the turnaround came as no surprise for the 34-year-old.
Delhi Capitals played their last league match on May 17, more than two weeks before the Indian Test team assembles in Chandigarh.
But red-ball cricket brings its own challenges, especially after two months of non-stop T20 cricket.
At the start of his innings, Rahul looked rusty. Credit goes to Afghanistan’s new bowlers, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi and Azmatullah Omarzai, who made the most of what little they could extract from the surface. The duo bowled a controlled distance and asked probing questions to both Yashavi Jaiswal and Rahul.Jaiswal was put into the groove by Abdul Malik when the left-hander was in the 11th over off the bowling of Umarzai. But he failed to make the most of the timeout before Salim Safi choked him from the side of his leg.Rahul struggled with timing for most of the opening session but managed to stay put. His frustration was evident as he searched for rhythm. The attacking cricketer’s muscle memory briefly took hold and, in an attempt to break the shackles, he attempted to cut off Ziaur Rahman’s back foot. There was an obvious nick. Rehmanullah Gurbaz, who was standing at second slip, was convinced, but failed to convince captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, who decided not to take over the DRS.Except for that gift, Rahul looked solid. The Afghan bowlers kept probing and their spinners extracted some bounce as well. Once the early humidity disappeared, Rahul looked increasingly comfortable against spin. Shortly after the lunch break, he completed his half-century after grinding out 86 balls.Rahul found a capable partner in Sai Sudharsen at the other end. The pair added 139 runs for the second wicket.If Rahul looked rusty, Sudarsan, who was favored over Devdutt Padikkal, made the most of his opportunity with a polished 81.
On the eve of the Test, Gautam Gambhir said that Sai will be given a “longer rope” and that the management has full confidence in his success at No. 3.Sy got off to a fast start with a few clear shots but was dropped twice, on 18 and 59.Left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote, who gained good bounce from the pitch in the opening session, created an outside edge but Gurbaz reacted late behind her stumps. Later, Ziaur Rahman pulled Sai forward.
The ball straightened, took the outside edge and flew past Afsar Zazai. I went low and to the left of the guard. Zazai jumped full length but was unable to catch it, and the ball also beat the fielder at first slip.Sai’s confidence grew and he completed his third Test fifty with a hat-trick of boundaries off Kharot. And just when he looked set for a much bigger score, Mohamed Salim broke the dangerous partnership with an easy sending off.
Sai moved away from his body, got a thick outside edge, and this time Zazai jumped low to his left to complete a good catch.After Sai’s dismissal, Rahul took a backseat as captain Shubman Gill, who looked to be in strong touch off the first ball, hit the ground on the run. The pair added 67 points in quick time. Rahul completed his 12th Test hundred and was bowled off the next ball he faced after acknowledging a handful of spectators at Mullanpur.Standing at the non-striker’s end, Gil couldn’t believe his eyes and was placing his right hand on his head. This wasn’t the first time he’d been left dumbfounded by the other party. Just last week, at the same place, but in different colours, he was on his feet after watching his Gujarat Titans team-mate Sai Sudharshan bowl a wicket.Rahul shook his head and walked away disappointed. He covered the cover drive and probably wanted to bat more freely after reaching the three-figure mark.
Instead, Gurbaz made a clever catch as he dived forward to his left. Ziaur Rahman, who had poured his heart out in the morning session, celebrated with obvious joy.It wasn’t a fluent innings from Rahul or Sai, but that wasn’t the point. They both needed time in the middle and they both got it. Rahul will be disappointed to have fallen immediately after reaching his hundred, having dominated proceedings for most of his stay. Meanwhile, Sai consolidated his position in third place. The administration promised him a long rope and another confirmed contribution, ensuring that the matter remained in his hands.